Description
These Reuben Balls pack all the iconic flavors of the classic sandwich—corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and rye—in a crunchy, creamy bite-sized snack. Paired with a spicy Thousand Island dipping sauce, they make the ultimate appetizer for game day, parties, or anytime comfort food cravings strike.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups finely chopped corned beef
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
½ cup well-drained sauerkraut
4 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup rye breadcrumbs or crushed rye crackers
1 large egg, beaten
½ cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
1 cup breadcrumbs (for coating)
Vegetable oil, for frying
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon pickle relish
1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix together the chopped corned beef, shredded Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, cream cheese, and rye breadcrumbs until well combined.
2. Cover and refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes to firm it up for rolling.
3. Once chilled, scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll into balls. You should have 18 to 22 balls. Set them on a parchment-lined tray.
4. Roll each ball in flour, then dip in the beaten egg, and coat with breadcrumbs. Repeat until all are coated.
5. Heat oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry the balls in batches, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
6. To make the sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, hot sauce, paprika, and garlic powder until smooth. Adjust spice to taste.
7. Serve Reuben Balls hot with dipping sauce on the side. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
For best flavor and texture, drain the sauerkraut thoroughly using a cheesecloth or press in a sieve.
You can freeze uncooked, breaded balls for up to 2 months and fry directly from frozen.
To make it lighter, air fry at 375°F for 8–10 minutes instead of deep frying.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 balls
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
Keywords: Reuben balls, fried appetizer, party snack, game day recipe